John Phillips

Hi! I'm Hunter Phillips, licensed clinical social worker with over six years of experience in assisting individuals in overcoming major stressors affecting their lives. The bulk of my work has focused on treating children, adolescents, caregivers and families dealing with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to trauma and grief. I have worked with clients experiencing short-term crises as well as those requiring longer-term treatment, using evidence-based strategies that best fit a dynamic range of needs.

My approach

I have found a combination of short- and long-term strategies to be most effective in treating clients holistically. Solution-focused therapy allows us to identify and mitigate immediate stressors or crises in a practical manner. Cognitive behavioral therapy then guides us as we examine and change unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors for continued future growth. Additionally, much of my work has focused on family therapy, which aims to strengthen family relationships by re-working communication patterns and clarifying roles within families.

My focus

Most of my experience has centered on child and adolescent clients and their families. With a solid therapeutic alliance in place, we can tackle issues such as mood and anxiety disorders, behavior issues, poor self-image, relationship problems, grief, trauma, and more. I have also assisted children and adolescents affected by homelessness, custody issues, foster care, sex trafficking, teenage parenthood, and abuse and neglect.

My communication style

Having worked with clients from young children with behavior issues to grieving caregivers, I have learned ways to assist clients in feeling comfortable regardless of their situations. I employ a warm, non-judgmental stance with clients in genuinely trying to understand where clients are coming from. I pride myself on being adaptable and flexible with clients during evolving and dynamic situations.

My journey to mental healthcare

Therapy is a core part of my life. It started as being the listening ear for friends and family. I then went on to lead a mentorship program in high school and became more interested in understanding how people think and interact. This lead me to an undergraduate degree in psychology and eventually my master's degree in social work and clinical social work license. These interests and experiences, coupled with my own experience benefitting from therapy during stressful life periods, have led me to where I am today!

My goals for you

Goal-setting is a crucial part of the strategies we use to overcome clients' stressors. We work together to define short- and long-term goals and use approaches such as solution-focused and cognitive behavioral therapies to move towards meeting these goals.

My first session with you

In the first session, we will get to know each other better and work towards developing trust and a strong therapeutic alliance. We will proceed at whatever pace is most comfortable for you while discussing your immediate stressors as well as exploring the history that may be relevant in developing a plan to alleviate these and future stressors. We will work out a unique agreement and action plan to move forward towards positive change and growth.